Feeling down and depressed, need advice about vitamins and iron.

[nikki81]

Hi everyone. I have 2 children, a 4yr old and a 6 month old. For the past few months I have felt very down and low. I started taking St Johns wort and also pregnacare vitamins and after about 10 days felt so good. However I have been on the St johns wort for a month now and ran out of pregnacare vitamins so started taking just an iron tablet as I also think my levels are low but for the past week have been feeling low again. Im wondering if it's the vitamins I need more? I have brought some milidex tonic for myself and my 4 yr old which I started taking tonight and felt that instantly it gave me a boost. Could this be the problem that im lacking in some vitamins and not actually feeling depressed? Thanks

Hi there nikki

Are you breastfeeding? sometimes that takes the iron out of you

If not you could try 'Pharmaton' capsules they are brilliant, especially for run down/recovering from illness/hectic lyfestyle etc a real boost. I had them and felt on top of the world when I was lacking.

I take Centrum proformance(which also has zinc, Ginseng & ginkgo biloba to cater for the hectic lifestyle), Boots Antioxidant complex, eye q fish oils and Odourless Garlic every day, did alot of research and these are the recomended ones for me

Hi. Thanks for replying. I am only bfeeding once in the morning now. Keep wondering if I should stop though as it might settle my hormones down?
Wow that's alot to take, how do you remember?!
I have got some fish oils here and a high energy vitamin I could take but worry about taking too much!

Nikki: you can get some vits esp for bfing mothers - Boots do a new mother one. Not sure if it works cos I keep forgetting to take them!

Are you getting enough rest (or as much as you can ) and eating a balanced diet? Still better to get your vitamins from food rather than supplements if you can Also, if youa re feeling low then exercise can really help, esp in the sunshine (while it lasts!).

Hope you feel better soon.

Yes I was worried too but after reading 'Patrick Holford's New Optimum Nutrition Bible' which gives in depth info about vitamins & minerals I found he stated we don't actually take enough of them in one dose (we tikkle the surface IYKWIM) I went to the health shops and chemist and asked them too and they said it was right and you should take a high streigngh Multi vitamin & Multi Mineral plus an antioxdant. Garlic is good for the immune system & cholestarol & fish oils is very good for you too but as long as you take a high streignth multi vit & Multi Min with antioxidant you are fine!

I checked the quantity of every multi vit & Min on every shops shelf (yes I stalked the shops) & Centrum Performance was the top one, Ordinary one only had half the quantity in it. If you are tired and forgetfull you are probably lacking in B vitamins and Chromium.

Nikki, my moods are very up & down with a 15 week old & 2 other DCs. I take Spatone (iron in liquid form you can get it in Holland & Barrett) and I notice a difference within about 2 days. You don't have to take it all the time, just when you are feeling low. Also take Magnesium (for depression) & Vit B complex (for energy)supplements.